Gravity-feed water heater



2 Sheets-Sheet l D. CONEKIN GRAVITY FEED WATER HEATER Filed May 29, 1925 May 22, 1928.

Inventvr W 6 I015 attorng y May 22, 1928.

D. CONEKIN GRAVITY FEED WATER HEATER I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1925 Patented May 22, 1928.

warren stares DAWSON CONEKIN, F PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SALVAGE HEATING APPLIANCE COMPANY,

A COBBORATION OF DELAWARE.

GRAVITY-FEED WATER HEATER.

Application filed May 29, 1925.

This invention relates to gravity-feed water heaters.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide in a hot water or steam heating system. an auxiliary heater for heating the re turn water or condensate from the radiators before it enters the boiler. using the heat from the gases of combustion, before these gases reach the chimney. and thus improve the etiiciency of the heating system.

Introducing an auxiliary heater in the line of the return water pipe, and at the same time having the water flow upwardly through the heater, necessitates a loop in 1 the return pipe where the water enters the heater from below, and also a loop in the return pipe where the water leaves the heater from the top thereof, and then courses downwardly to enter the boiler. Steam accumulating in the upper loop breaks the continuity of flow of the water therein and interferes with the circulation through the system. It is therefore another object of my invention to provide means for carrying of? this pocketed steam, and thus relieve the upper loop of it, but at the same time have this excess steam pass back into the system. without losing the same.

On account of locating the auxiliary heator in the path of the hot gases as they pass from the combustion chamber to the chimney. there are times, particularly when starting a fresh fire, when the heat of the combustion gases is very intenseand the water coming down the return pipe is cold. These combined conditions would set up a water hammer in the auxiliary heater, without means for relieving the same. It is therefore. another object of my invention to provide. within the heater, means having an air cushion to take up the shock of the water hammer.

With these and other objects my invention resides in certain construction. one embodiment of which is shown in the drawings. The construction is hereinafter described and its operation is explained and what I claim is set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hot water or condensate heating apparatus, embodying my invention. ,v

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of What is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of Serial No. 33,808.

the auxiliary heater for heating the return water or condensate on its way back to the boiler. and is partly broken away to show the shock absorber.

Figure 4 is an end view of the heater shown in Figure 3. r V

Figure 5 is a perspective view of-one of the shock absorbing elements used in the sections of the auxiliary heater.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Figure 4.

In the figures, the furnace boiler 10 is shown having a smoke pipe 11, two riser pipes 12 and 13, up which passes the hot water or steam from the boiler. Two return pipes 14 and 15 are shown entering the lower part of the boiler 10, at 16 and 17 respectively.

There is a drum 18 forming an enlarged cavity in the smoke pipe 11, just beyond the boiler 10. Each end of the drum 18 is provided with a releasable thimble 19, for cleaning purposes. Within the drum 18 is placed the auxiliary heater 20. The return pipe 14 is connected with the auxiliary heater 20 inthe following manner: The portion 21, of the pipe 14, has a loop formed at 22 and enters the heater 20 from below. The portion 23, of the pipe 14, which connects the heater 20 with the boiler 10, at the connection 16, below, has a loop formed at 24, where the water rises from the heater 20, and then turns down to enter the boiler 10.

an I .A small pipe 25 connects with the T 26 of the loop 24 and carries off any steam, from the loop 24, into the riser pipe 12' at the T 27.

In a similar way the return pipe 15 has connection with the oppositeend of the heater 20. The portion 28 of the pipe 15, has aloop formed 'at 29 and enters the heater 20 from below. The portion 30 of the pipe 15, which, connects the heater 20, with the opposite side of the boiler 10, at the connection 17 below, has a 100 formedat 31, where the water rises from tlie heater 100 20 and then turns down to enter the boiler 10. A small pipe 32connects with the T 33, of the loop 31, and carries ofl any steam from the loop 31, into the riser pipe 13, at the T-connection 34.

The auxiliary heater 20 is built up of circular sections 35, each having a hollow ring formation at 36 and a central strai ht tubular part at 37 integral with the hollow ring formation 36. Opposite one end of the part 110 

